Category Archives: Naples Landmarks
The National Archaeological Museum of Naples
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Naples, the capital of the Campania region, and the third most populated city of Italy was named after Neapolis. Naples has one of the biggest historical centres in the world which has also been deemed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the various tourist attractions in Naples is the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, which happens to be the biggest Rroman architectural museum in the World, even bigger than the National Museum of Rome.
Located in Piazza Museo, the National Archaeological Museum houses in a lovely pink building which stands in a corner of what was once the wall of the Greek city of Neapolis. Over a span of years, the museum received collections of antiquities from all over Italy, both from private collectors and from various excavations.
The museum takes pride in its extensive collection of Greek and Roman artifacts, the principal among which are the Farnese Collection of engraved gems and the Farnese Marble sculptures. The museum also displays well-preserved delightful mosaics and beautiful frescoes. Naples Archeological Museum houses wall paintings and different objects removed from Pompeii, Herculaneum, and other excavation sites in the area. In addition, you can admire the Farnese collection of Roman sculptures (including the famous sculptures of the Caracala Baths). Also the tourists will find a collection of erotic Roman art which is referred to as The Secret Cabinet. The cabinet holds sexually explicit frescoes, household and other items that were excavated from Pompeii.
The museum can be visited daily from 9 am to 7 pm, although for those visitors who are already in the building, the museum stays open until 8 pm. It is closed Tuesdays and is not open on Christmas Day, December 25. There is also an audio guide available talking about the statue collection on the first floor, however most of the amazing artifacts such as original Roman murals of mostly Greek mythologies are not covered. All descriptions of the exhibits are in English and in Italian.
The Edenlandia theme park in Naples
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Standing at Viale Kennedy, Naples 80125 – Italy, Edenlandia is a theme park sprawling across an area of over 50,000 square metres. It is favourite entertainment spot for adults and children alike as there are various fun filled activities for everyone including a vast collection of rides and games. The park is open during the day and in the evenings. Among the popular attractions are: several dozen rides including a roller coaster, games that are played for prizes, a theatre and virtual reality. There are also refreshments, telephones and a bureau de change. The park also offers car parking facility and is easily accessible via bus or the Cumana railway.
There are a lot of attractions near this theme park which can be visited by the tourist when in this area. Some of the famous attractions lying close to Edenlandia theme park include Giardino Zoologico, Overseas exhibiton, Maritime Teaching Museum, Parco Virgiliano, Bay of Naples, Flegreo Archaeological Complex, Villa Comunale, National Museum of Ceramics, etc.
The hotels near Edenlandia include Hotel Domitiana, Montespina Park Hotel, Hotel San Paolo, Villa Medici and many more.
Parks and gardens in Naples
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Naples in Italy takes pride in its various green spots right from public to private ones and from large ones to tiny ones. Many of these green spots were actually former private gardens and parklands of the city’s nobility which have now been taken over by Naples. Nevertheless, you have a look at some of the choicest parks and gardens of Naples:
Botanical Gardens
Via Foria 223, Carlo III, Naples, Italy
Founded about 200 years ago, this garden spans to a large area of around 30 acres / 12 hectares and is covered by giant walls. The garden boasts of a wide collection of plant species including palms, tree fern glades, a large succulent collection, an important collection of established trees and shrubs, large cacti and many stunning flowering plants. The gardens are open daily from 09:00 to 14:00 hours and there is no charge for admission.
Gardens of Augustus
Founded by the famous Roman emperor, Julius Caesar, these terraced gardens feature a vast collection of mature trees, shrubs and many other specimen plants, which all thrive in the fertile soil.
Villa Comunale
This old and large city park offers spectacular views running for almost a mile along the Bay of Naples and features many established trees, fountains, walkways and an aquarium.
Gardens of Poseidon
Featuring Mediterranean plants and various other species of flora, these gardens stand near to Citara and have a complex of swimming pools. The garden remains open in summer from 08:30 to 19:00 hours.
Top seven attractions of Naples
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Naples is located in the Southern Italy on the country’s west coast by the Gulf of Naples. This city is famous for its art works as well as enriching history. It is even well known for its music and culture. It has played an integral political role in influencing the parts of Italian Peninsula. Below are a few famous tourist attractions of Naples.
1. Spaccanapoli
Spaccanapoli is considered to be the historic centre of Naples, Italy. It comprises of lovely ancient churches and buildings, shops as well as breath taking art works. If you are interested for street shopping then this place is ultimate for you. Shoppers usually travel on foot and thus, you may find this place a crowded.
2. Castel Nuovo
Even though this tourist attraction has been rebuilt and modified many times it is still considered to be an important symbol of architecture of the city. This vast castle contains wonderful paintings and artworks. It was built in the year 1279-1282 and continues to astonish people by its breath taking work.
3. Naples University
Founded by Frederick II in the year 1224 is considered to be the one of the oldest universities of Europe. Visiting this university will definitely be a wonderful experience.
4. San Lorenzo Maggiore
This ancient church is situated at the center of the historic center of the Greek-Roman city. This church is famous because it contains the remains of Greek and Romans underneath. It is a three storied building and comprises of archeological displays.
5. Teatro San Carlo
If you are interested in opera then nothing can be better than Teatro San Carlo. It was founded by Bourbon Charles VII of Naples in 1737. It is considered to be an oldest opera house and is still famous for its originality.
6. The National Archaeological Museum of Naples
This museum is famous for its collection artifacts produced in Greek, Roman and Renaissance. It situated at the northwest corner of the original Greek wall of the Neapolis and contains wonderful ancient items of gold, silver, gems and sculptures.
7. Via Toledo
This area has a number of shops. Whether it is a boutique or a departmental store or a café, you will find everything out here. It is a busy area and has long chains of shops. You may even find antiques and art dealers.
Virgil’s Tomb, the Roman burial Vault
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Virgil’s tomb is an ancient Roman burial vault as old as to the Augustan age, situated in Naples, southern Italy. It is there got at the entrance of the old Roman tunnel which is recognized as the grotta vecchia or cripta napoletana in the Parco Virgiliano in the Piedigrotta district of the city. Virgil’s tomb there is situated on the hill as located between the Mergellina and Fuorigrotta, as on the street that proceeds towards the north as along the coast, with nearness to a very old tuff quarry. At first impression it looks like a very small unimpressive-looking structure, having a small dome of rocks situated on the top of the park.
The tunnel was there constructed around the rule of Augustus connecting Neapolis to Pozzuoli and Baiae. However, the tunnel has been closed down for any further renovations and more the Tunnel is about 700 meters in length and is about four to six meters wide apart. As Virgil was already too famous for his literary works and too admired well before his death as in the following his name was made connected and became associated to the miraculous powers, his tomb as the object of pilgrimages and pagan veneration. It is said that the poet himself constructed the cave as due to the intense gaze and there with the intense powers.
When Virgil was on the dead bed at Brindisi in 19 BCE, he desired his ashes to be carried out to his villa as about outside the Naples. Hence a shrine was made for him and the sacred rites were organized there on his birthday. Otherwise it has been said the rites of a hero, at whose tomb the devout may find protection and counsel. Virgil’s tomb therefore became a center of pilgrimage as from centuries, and even literary legends as Petrarch and Boccaccio visited his shrine. It is also been told that the Chiesa della Santa Maria di Piedigrotta was there stand by the Church authorities to neutralise this pagan adoration and “Christianise” the site. The tomb yet is a very popular tourist attraction and still shows the tripod burner as connected and related to it. With the passage of the time the tomb fell into ruin as its exact location was forgotten. It is also said that the Virgil’s Bones there were protected Naples for many years and the attackers even suffered from plagues of flies.
Mount Vesuvius, the Volcano still erupting
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Mount Vesuvius is a stratovolcano located at the Bay of Naples. It distance from the city of Naples is about 9 kilometres and is positioned in the east of the city. It is not much far away from the shore. The Mount Vesuvius is credited with having the reputation of being the only volcano on the European mainland to erupt during the course of about 100 years. The two other prominent active volcanoes in Italy are Etna and Stromboli that are volcanic islands.
In history, Mount Vesuvius is notorious for its eruption in AD 79 that contributed to the devastation of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. And the cities failed to ever emerge and to be reconstructed and the looters rest perished the city after the damage from eruption. Hence the cities were forgotten for a long time and suddenly rediscovered in the 18th century. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius was so massive that it even changed the course of the river Sarno and raised the sea beach, this development led to the Pompeii never being on the river nor at the close to the coast. During the Course Vesuvius also went through the major changes as its slopes remained without any vegetation and its head changed permanently due to the force of the eruption. Since then, Vesuvius has been reputed for many times and presently is considered as the most dangerous volcanoes in the world due to its population of about 3,000,000 people living at close by areas. It is among the most densely populated volcanic region of the world.
Vesuvius is popular and known for its long and historic and literary tradition. It was observed as a divinity of the genius type at the time of the eruption of 79 AD. It appears as inscribed name Vesuvius as a serpent in the decorative frescos of many lararia, or household shrines that have been survived from the Pompeii. Vesuvius is a unique “humpbacked” mountain that is consisted of a massive cone (Gran Cono) especially encircled by the steep rim of a summit caldera as generated by the collapse of an earlier and originally much higher structure named Monte Somma. The Gran Cono was produced during the eruption of AD 79. Therefore, volcano is also termed as Somma-Vesuvius or Somma-Vesuvio.
The height of the primary cone has changed considerably by eruptions, but at present it is about 1,281 m (4,202 ft) at present. Monte Somma is 1,149 m (3,770 ft) high, parted from the main cone by the valley of Atrio di Cavallo that is about 3 miles long. The slopes of the mountain are rugged by lava flows but are intensely vegetated, with scrub and forest at higher altitudes and a vineyard as far as one goes down. Vesuvius is as now is even regarded and treated as an active volcano, yet its current activity produces little more than steam from vents at the bottom of the crater.
Sea food, adding flavor to cuisines in Naples
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As far as for the Neapolitan cuisines, there one can easily found abundance of sea food in the dishes and recipes. The majority of the seafood used in Neapolitan cuisines is obtained from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Recipes, in cooking uses rather less expensive fishes like particular anchovies, and other fishes. The most common varieties of the fishes used includes as zuppa, scorfano, tracina, cuoccio. The medium and big fishes include varieties as spigola and orate. The fishes from fish farm include as dentice, sarago and pezzogna. The very small fishes are the cicenielli which are too small and transparent and are prepared either steamed or fried in dough. The fravagli is a few centimeter long fish primarily of triglia or retunni are generally fried ones. The baccalà (cod) and stockfish, are imported from northern Europe seas, and are served either fried or cooked with potatoes and tomatoes.
Shellfish cozze (mussels), vongole (clams), cannolicchi (Ensis siliqua, taratufi, telline (Donax trunculus), sconcigli (Haustellum brandaris)) are also used in a number of seafood meals and many a times are eaten raw. Though, it is prohibited by law to sell and eat the sea dates as there serious fishing damages the sea coastline rocks, primarily into the Sorrento peninsula. Seafood is also used extensively in the Pasta Dishes as well. The Spaghetti, linguine and paccheri are mixes very well with fish and seafood. The pasta dishes prepared using fishes are used elaborately in important lunches and dinners; prominently for wedding reasons. The most popular fishes used with pasta include as Spaghetti alle vongole, Paccheri con la zuppa di pesce and Pasta con i calamari, with squid sauce, cooked along with white wine. Many a times the conventional dishes of pasta with legumes are even mixed with seafood for example one such is pasta e fagioli con le cozze (pasta with beans and mussels), or other more modern types like pasta with zucchine and clams.
One of the most popular seafood dishes comes from the quarter ‘Santa Lucia’: polpi alla luciana, where octopus is there cooked with chili pepper and tomato. There Octopus is also normally steamed and is prepared with salad along with lemon juice, parsley and green olives. A richer seafood salad can be made there mixing squid, cuttlefish and prawns. The Medium size fishes are prepared and cooked as all’acqua pazza, with tomato, garlic and parsley; the bigger one there are normally grilled in the important meals in the king size prawns. Mussels are made in varieties of way and cheap fishes are also thus produced in very tasty recipes. The most popular one there are anchovy.
Teatro di San Carlo, the famous opera from Naples
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The Real Teatro di San Carlo, the opera house in Naples, Italy is the oldest active venue in Europe and is being recognized as the UNESCO WORLD heritage. The Opera was established by the Bourbon Charles VII of Naples of the Spanish tutelage of the Dynasty. The Opera was started on November fourth 1737. The first show at the opera was Domenico Sarro’s Achille in Sciro, originated by the famous poet and dramatist who were popular by the name of Metastasio. Sarro also conducted the orchestra in two ballets and forms as intermezzi, as created by Grossatesta. At the time of the opening, the opera house was the biggest in the world, with seating capacity of around 3,300 seats.
The theatre was prepared by the architects Giovanni Antonio Medrano and Angelo Carasale for the king as the Charles was nurturing desire for Naples to have a new and larger theater as to replace with the old and dilapidated Teatro San Bartolomeo of 1621. The Newly constructed theater was well praised for its architecture and design, its gold decorations and the luxurious blue upholstery. On 12 February 1816 the San Carlo was destroyed in a massive fire. However, it was re-designed by the architect Antonio Niccolini and reconstructed within the time period of ten months on the order of King Ferdinand IV, another Bourbon monarch and son of Charles III.
On 12 January 1817, the reconstructed theatre was started with Johann Simon Mayr’s Il sogno di Partenope. It was designed as a traditional horseshoe-shaped auditorium with around 1,444 seats, and the proscenium is 33.5m wide and 30m high. The stage is 34.5m deep. In year 1844 there a new redecoration occurred under Niccolini his son Fausto and Francesco Maria dei Giudice. The main reason for the intervention has entirely changed the interior appearance to the present red and gold, theater. The theater did not face any big change until the bombing of the Second World War in 1943. Though the theater was repaired very soon and was occupied by the Allied forces, and soon re-opened within six months on 16 December 1943.
That was also the time of the great Neapolitan opera that was intensively successful as around and about in the entire Europe. The Neapolitan school of opera composers at that time was consisted of Feo, Porpora, Traetta, Piccinni, Vinci, Anfossi, Durante, Jommelli, Cimarosa, Paisiello, Zingarelli, and Gazzaniga. Naples at the time even became the capital of European music and even foreign composers deemed their composed compositions at the San Carlo theatre as the goal of their entire career.
Hotel Romeo, five stars hotel in Naples
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Hotel Romeo, five stars hotel in Naples
• Overview of the Hotel: The stylish rooms in the Hotel Romeo are made by the innovative team of architects and designers and further they provides the stylish room with free Wi-Fi, and a rooftop pool towards the harbor of Naples. There is also the Zero Sushi Bar and the II Comandante restaurant where you can enjoy gourmet food while in an intimate and refined atmosphere. Hotel has about 83 rooms and it is the Chain of the Design Hotels.
• Amenities at the Hotel: With respect to amenities in the hotel the prominent one includes as restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk, newspapers, non-smoking rooms, rooms/facilities for disabled guests, elevator, express check-in/check-out, safe, soundproofed rooms, heating, design hotel, baggage storage, gay friendly, allergy-free room available, air conditioning and designated smoking area. As for services they include as following one as room service, meeting/banquet facilities, business center, laundry, dry cleaning, vip room facilities, breakfast in the room, ironing service, currency exchange, shoe shine, car rental and fax/photocopying.
• Hotel Rules: As for hotel policies in Hotel Romeo, they even can vary from hotel room to hotel room yet there remains a common hotel polices that even changes from hotel room to hotel rooms. The check in time into hotel is 14:00 – 00:00 hours and check out time is 01:00 – 12:00 hours. The cancellation and prepayment policy there varies in the hotel from room types to room type. Pets are there not allowed in hotel. It also accepts cards like American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club, JCB, Maestro and CartaSi.
• Hotel Room Types and Rates:
Deluxe Double Room: € 190 (Per Night)
Deluxe Double Room with Harbour View: € 190 (Per Night)
Junior Suite: € 330 (Per Night)
Are you planning a visit to Naples?
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When talking about the world’s most alluring tourist destinations, the list can never be complete without ever so appealing Naples in Italy. The city is the third most populated municipality (city proper) of Italy, but the second metropolitan area, after Milan. It was founded between the 7th and 6th centuries BC by the Greeks and was named Neapolis, which means new city. Because of its vast artistic heritage, the historic centre of Naples has earned the UNESCO World Heritage Site denomination. When in the city, one cannot but be fascinated by the captivating and exquisite beauty of the city.
When To Visit:
Broadly speaking, Naples takes a pride in being a perfect holiday destination at any time of the year. It enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and warm to hot, dry summers. The mild climate and the geographical richness of the bay of Naples made it famous during Roman times, when emperors chose the city as a favourite holiday location. However, the summers here are hot and oppressive with being crowded and during winters, the mercury can dip below 5°C at night. Winters see a dip in the inflow of tourists and summers are compapartively more crowded.
What To See:
Naples has one of the greatest density of cultural resources and monuments that include 2800 years of history (castles, fountains, churches, ancient architecture, etc.). However, the first place for any tourist attraction in Naples would undoubtedly be Mount Vesuvius and the spectacular “Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata”, one of the linchpin UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Naples. Another impressive UNESCO inscription in Campania within a short drive from Naples proper, is the “18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex”.
Naples hosts a wealth of historical museums and some of the most important in the country. The Naples National Archaeological Museum is one of the main museums, considered one of the most important for artifacts of the Roman Empire in the world. Other places of interest include Museo di Capodimonte, Piazza del Plebiscito, Castel Nuovo and Sant’Elmo hill and fortress. The central and main open city square or piazza of the city is the Piazza del Plebiscito.
Hosting the Archdiocese of Naples, the Catholic faith is highly important to the people of Naples and there are hundreds of churches in the city. The Cathedral of Naples is the most important place of worship in the city followed by Santa Chiara, San Domenico Maggiore, Gesù Nuovo, Sansevero Chapel and many more.
Transport:
The main transport hub for Naples is Naples International Airport, with links to every major city in Italy and dozens within Europe and overseas. Unlike most European airports, it is not served by any rail system.
From the airport you can take a bus for €3 (called Alibus) which has two stops only: Stazione Centrale (Central station) and Piazza Municipio, near the main ferry port (molo Beverello).
The main train station is Napoli Centrale – Piazza Garibaldi Station, connected to the Naples subway system. The buses R2 or 601 from the Piazza Garibaldi in front of the train station will take you within three blocks of the ferries at Stazione Marittima. Other stations include Mergellina, a magnificent Art Déco building andCampi Flegrei.
Many national and international private bus services operate in Naples, generally stopping at Piazza Garibaldi or Piazza Municipio.
You can explore Naples and the surrounding area by taxi, train/subway, or by bus. Though taxis are the quickest way to see Naples, they can be quite a train on your pockets. Before getting into a taxi, make sure it is licensed.
Play it safe:
A word of caution here. As all tempting and sexy things in the world, Naples is dangerous in both organized and non-organized crime. Traffic in Naples is nuts. It is the place where the social order breaks down and it is every man for himself. Naples is a gritty and in many parts impoverished city. Do walk around, but be watchful, avoid empty streets and dimly-lit alleys at night and keep your wits about yourself.
Some advisable precautions to be taken in Naples are:
• Do not leave valuables lying out in the open.
• Do not flash around money or other valuables.
• Do not wear an expensive watch (Rolex especially).
• Do not wander down small dark alleys/streets, especially in the Spanish Quarter.
• Pay attention to fake public service vehicles.
• Be careful around the main train station as there are many thieves in the area. The Piazza Garibaldi, the large square in front of the station, is no place to spend more time than necessary, especially at night.
• Pay attention to people who want to involve you in false road accidents.
• It is advisable not to wear football shirts of Juventus FC, AC Milan, Internazionale Milano, AS Roma, SS Lazio or Fiorentina. Neopolitans support SSC Napoli, who have big rivalries with those clubs.